The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party are paying as much attention to the 25 Seoul district mayoral races as to the Seoul mayoral election. From lawmakers' perspective, they need to win the district mayoral races, which are closely tied to local voter sentiment, to boost their chances in the general election two years from now.
In this Seoul district mayoral election, observers say Democratic Party of Korea candidates are generally favored, backed by the momentum of the national approval trend. However, in the Han River belt, where redevelopment and reconstruction and other dwellings maintenance project issues are concentrated, the outcome is likely to hinge on candidate competitiveness apart from party support.
Seoul's district mayoral elections have moved in step with the central political landscape. In the 8th local elections, held after former President Yoon Suk-yeol was elected in 2022, the then-ruling People Power Party won in 17 autonomous districts, including the three Gangnam districts and Mapo and Yongsan. At the time, the Democratic Party of Korea managed to hold on to just eight district mayoralties in its traditional strongholds of Nowon, Gangbuk, Geumcheon, Gwanak, Eunpyeong and Jungnang. In the Han River belt, it was virtually a near wipeout.
In this election, separate from the national approval trend, local issues—especially real estate and development—are taking center stage, raising the possibility that voter sentiment could diverge from the central political landscape. That is why attention is focusing on the Han River belt, where redevelopment and reconstruction and other dwellings maintenance projects are concentrated.
In the representative Han River belt area known as "Mayongseong (Mapo, Yongsan, Seongdong)," the matchups are, in order: Democratic Party of Korea candidate Yoo Dong-gyun versus People Power Party candidate Park Kang-soo in Mapo; Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kang Tae-woong versus People Power Party candidate Kim Kyung-dae in Yongsan; and Yoo Bo-hwa (Democratic Party of Korea) versus Ko Jae-hyeon (People Power Party) in Seongdong.
In Mayongseong, Democratic Party of Korea and People Power Party candidates are shaping a head-to-head contest by putting forward urban infrastructure development and redevelopment and reconstruction issues. In particular, all Yongsan candidates, where redevelopment is proceeding actively, pledged as their top pledge to push urban maintenance projects such as expedited redevelopment and reconstruction.
In "Nodogang (Nowon, Dobong, Gangbuk)," traditionally seen as a Democratic Party of Korea stronghold, candidates are forming a contest by adding transportation pledges to dwellings maintenance projects aimed at improving aging residential areas.
In Nowon District, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Seo Jun-o, a former aide to National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, is facing People Power Party candidate Kim Kwang-soo, while in Dobong District, candidates Kim Dong-uk (Democratic Party of Korea) and Oh Eon-seok (People Power Party) are running.
In Gangbuk District, where resolving traffic congestion is the key issue, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Jeong Chang-soo and People Power Party candidate Jang Ji-ho are running, and both put forward building a transport network linking Gangnam and Gangbuk as a main pledge.
Another point to watch is whether the People Power Party can hold the "three Gangnam districts (Seocho, Gangnam, Songpa)."
In Seocho District, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Hwang In-sik is facing People Power Party candidate Jeon Seong-su; in Gangnam District, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Hyeong-gon is facing People Power Party candidate Kim Hyun-gi; and in Songpa District, candidates Cho Jae-hee (Democratic Party of Korea) and Seo Kang-seok (People Power Party) are going head-to-head.
In these districts, candidates from both parties—except for People Power Party Seocho District mayoral candidate Jeon Seong-su—are all putting redevelopment and reconstruction among their top five pledges.
Democratic Party of Korea candidates running in these conservative strongholds are seeking to win votes with redevelopment and reconstruction pledges, emphasizing as a differentiator what they say is a favorable ability to communicate with the central government compared with People Power Party candidates.
Kim Hyeong-gon, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Gangnam District mayor, said, "For residents in Gangnam, apartments account for more than 80% of their asset, so I pledged redevelopment and reconstruction as my No. 1 pledge," adding, "With the president from the Democratic Party of Korea and candidate Jeong leading decisively in approval ratings for Seoul mayor, we judge we are advantaged for swift dwellings maintenance projects."
A Democratic Party of Korea official said, "This election comes one year after the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration," adding, "High national approval will be reflected in the results."
A People Power Party official said, "We do not see this race as easy," adding, "However, judging from what we hear through campaign workers, underlying public sentiment appears to show considerable interest in real estate pledges, so we are focusing our stump speeches on real estate pledges."